Long Live Heavy Metal
3 Inches of Blood · 2012
52 min · 12 tracks · heavy metal
A thunderous homage to classic metal infused with powerful riffs and soaring vocals that evoke a sense of camaraderie and rebellion.
Top tracks — play these first
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Metal Woman — Opening with a fierce declaration of female empowerment, this track sets the tone for the album's unapologetic embrace of heavy metal tropes.
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My Sword Will Not Sleep — Featuring galloping rhythms and an epic chorus, this song exemplifies the band's ability to blend storytelling with high-energy instrumentation.
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Storming Juno — This track stands out for its historical narrative about a pivotal World War II battle, showcasing the band's thematic range beyond typical metal subjects.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively channels classic heavy metal elements while maintaining a distinct sound within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a fast tempo, maintaining this pace through the first half before introducing slower, more melodic sections.
- The lyrics frequently reference themes of battle and heroism, with anthemic choruses designed for audience participation during live performances.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- camaraderie-filled anthems for gatherings
- thunderous riffs for energetic sessions
- rebellious spirit in every track
- powerful vocals that inspire action
Maybe skip if you
- prefer mellow and soothing sounds
- seek immediate gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- In 2012, 3 Inches of Blood released Long Live Heavy Metal as their fifth studio album, following their 2009 effort, Here Waits Thy Doom. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their presence within the Canadian heavy metal scene while embracing a more traditional sound reminiscent of the genre's glory days.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Iced Earth· Blind Guardian· HammerFall
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Metal Woman 4:48
- 2 My Sword Will Not Sleep 4:37
- 3 Leather Lord 3:57
- 4 Chief and the Blade 2:27
- 5 Dark Messenger 4:07
- 6 Look Out 5:29
- 7 4000 Torches 4:16
- 8 Leave It on the Ice 3:34
- 9 Upon the Boiling Sea IV: Die for Gold 4:03
- 10 Storming Juno 4:24
- 11 Men of Fortune 7:35
- 12 One for the Ditch 3:31
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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